We are left with two more weeks of “circuit breaker” lockdown – fingers crossed – and some of us would want to look fresh when we go out into the world again.
Instead of buying from fast fashion vendors, consider supporting some of Singapore’s more responsible labels. These brands promise to advocate for ethical garment factory worker conditions while making customers look good. Plus, they produce clothing in limited quantities, which means less waste.
Here are five brands to look out for, with prices taken from their sites current May 15.
Established in 2019, local fashion brand Eco Staples makes T-shirts for both men and women out of bamboo and are perfect for the humid Singapore weather.
According to the brand, the clothes are made by workers in Cambodia which it claims are paid fairly and work in safe and comfortable environments.
The Bamboo Lyocell is said to be an eco-friendly fabric that is fully biodegradable. Bamboo is also known as one of the world’s most sustainable resource.
Price: S$39.90 per shirt. Shop here.
Since 2016, Singaporean brand Source Collections has featured simple and premium quality basic wear like T-shirts and underwear for both sexes.
The products are said to be made in factories where working conditions are fair and safe, and no children employed. The brand says its Chinese factories are certified by the WorldWide Responsible Accredited Production, an independent and nonprofit team of social-compliance experts.
The brand is also transparent about its costs, including materials and labor, and its premium items won’t break the bank. For example, it says that it pays S$8.30 for one T-shirt’s fabric.
Price: From S$25 to S$59. Shop for their sustainable basic wear.
Sans Faff is a minimalist womenswear label that makes its clothing locally.
The family business says it strives to provide safe and clean working conditions for employees and doesn’t exploit them with long hours, low pay, or unsafe working conditions.
The slow fashion brand produces limited pieces in limited quantities using renewable resources such as bamboo fibers. No plastic materials are involved.
Their range of clothing items includes dresses, loungewear, and jumpsuits mainly in monochrome.
Price: From S$60 to S$232. Shop for their simple yet well-constructed designs.
Esse is a Singaporean womenswear line founded in 2017 that is known for clean-cut designs made from green fabrics such as organic cotton, cupro, and reused fabrics from leftover garments.
Their line includes outerwear, cheongsams, maxi dresses as well as signature pieces like trapeze tops and paper-bag pants. They are made by small-scale manufacturers in Vietnam and Thailand.
The brand said it supports fair wages, gender equality, and does not tolerate child labor. It said it believes in workers’ rights, such as minimum wages, paid holiday leave, and overtime.
Price: From S$69 to S$218. Shop their collection here.
Singaporean brand Gypsied transforms Southeast Asian heritage textiles into items like jackets and bags while working closely with partners from Indonesia.
The brand incorporates both culture and identities of today’s women into their designs of batik and handwoven textiles, said to be ethically sourced and made by expert craftsmen.
Price: From S$109.90 to S$149.90. Shop their timeless pieces here.
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